How Do You Help Your Kids Get Organized?

Kids follow by example. They may walk behind you like a tornado cluttering everything in their path, but if they see you putting things away, they will eventually start to model this behavior. Does that mean that they’ll start cleaning up after themselves when they’re 3, probably not. One thing for certain, you’ll improve your chances of getting kids to help out if you make it easy for them to clean up and put things away. Place hooks low so it’s easy to hang up jackets or even clothes in their closet. Have bins accessible and organized with only the toys they currently play with. Keeping it simple for them will help you both! If you keep too many things out, it provides opportunity for your child (and their friends) to make more of a mess, thus more for you to clean up. Regular decluttering and weeding out with children is very important. Encourage them, if they want a new toy, to donate or sell an old toy. Nothing like the old one in one out rule to keep things in order. Modeling this behavior with your own stuff will teach your children how to do the same, and it will certainly benefit you as well!

Monica Friel is president and founder of Chaos to Order. Monica manages and trains a staff of professional organizers who specialize in everything from household clutter to corporate chaos. She also represents brands and speaks publicly as an expert in the field of organizing.
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